He became a President of the Republic of the Philippines on December 30, 1961 until December 30, 1965.

If President Ramon Magsaysay so called “Favorite of the Mass”, President Diosdado Macapagal was called the “Champion of the Mass” because of his concern of the welfare of the poor Pilipino people. He became the inspiration of every Pilipino to believe in their own self ability. He proved that poverty is not a hindrance towards success.

Diosdado Macapagal was born in the province of San Nicolas, Lubao, Pampanga on September 28, 1910. His parents are Urbano Macapagal and Romana Pangan. His father was a farmer. His mother, because of not attended in the school was a laundry woman as her occupation.

His family is poor but poverty was not a hurdle for him to study and become the most influenced person in his country in his time. He studied his elementary in Lubao Elementary School where he was a valedictorian. Salutatorian in high school at Mataas na Paaralan ng Pampanga. Because of his goodness and brilliance he managed to go to college in Pamantasan ng Pilipinas. He studied there the course in Associate in Arts and passed the Civil Service Examination. His first job was an employee in the Department of Agriculture in 1932.

He started to study the law in the Philippine Law School in the University of Sto. Tomas. This was where he finished his course. He became a topnotcher in the Bar Exams in 1936. He was the only one who got this kind of recognition in the history of the university. He continued his study and he acquired the following: Master of Laws, Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Philosophy in Economics. He had his own law office where he used all his knowledge.

Macapagal occupied the position in the government: Chief of Legal Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Chief Negotiator in Turtle Island with Great Britain and Undersecretary in the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. that had the same position in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

His first encounter in the politics was when President Quirino encouraged him as representative in the 1st District of Pampanga in 1949. He won again in 1953. He was loved by the people of Pampanga not just because he was born there, but just because he was good and faithful in his duties. – New Encyclopedia Britannica